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Optimum Performance: NFL Quarterbacks | The Endangered Species

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San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) lays a vicious hit on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9), who loses the ball on a play that resulted in a 15-yard penalty against the 49ers in the fourth quarter during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on Sunday, November 17, 2013. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)

So far this season, nine NFL quarterbacks have been listed on injured reserve. Rams QB Sam Bradford is a recent addition with surgery this week to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) suffered in a loss to the Panthers back in October.

As of week 11, NFL.com reported, "Of the 15 games on this week's schedule, nine feature at least one team that has been forced to change its quarterback because of injury."

In week 12, new members of the quarterback walking wounded include Christian Ponder (shoulder), Carson Palmer (right hand), and Brady Quinn (back) - all practicing but undoubtedly with some form of discomfort.

At week 8 in Philadelphia, both quarterbacks - Michael Vick (hamstring) and backup Nick Foles (concussion) - were listed as injured. Foles was back in week 11 as the Eagles starting QB, leading his team to a decisive victory over the Redskins, while capturing first place in the NFC East.

Denver's Peyton Manning led his division-tied 9-1 Broncos to a decisive 27-17 victory at home against the Chiefs, despite a high ankle sprain. Manning adapted by spending most of the game in the shotgun formation to eliminate the 5-step drop, thus preventing unnecessary stress to his injured ankle.

Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Warren Moon attributes some of the quarterback injury problems to the NFL's spread offense, which can leave backfields empty of players who would normally supply the QB with additional pass protection. Right now, NFL games are averaging 2.65 QB sacks, which is on a pace for the highest sack rate since 1986 (2.67 sacks per game).

Since joining the Saints in 2006, Drew Brees has not missed a snap - a true testimony to his physical and mental preparation for the rigors of the NFL. However, back in 2005, Brees suffered a concussion while with San Diego, a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2006 with the Chargers, and an injury scare in the 2010 Saints' season, when he took a shot to his left knee in a game against the Falcons.

In last Sunday's game against San Francisco, Brees narrowly escaped a serious injury in the 4th quarter, when 49er linebacker Ahmad Brooks sacked him with an illegal hit to the head. Luckily for the Saints, Brees' fumble, which the 49ers recovered, was overturned leading to a Garrett Hartley game-winning 31-yard field goal.

Having previously worked on three NFL quarterbacks - Eli Manning (high school), David Garrard (NFL Draft Preparation), and Patrick Ramsey (NFL Draft prep & later with Saints) - I understand the demanding aspects of the mental and physical preparation to be productive and stay alive in the dangerous confines of the pocket.

Having also worked on more NFL defensive players than I care to count, I have prepared these men to create havoc on opposing offenses, including the quarterback, if he does not get rid of the ball within three seconds - a statistic given to me recently by former 15-year veteran Saints' quarterback Archie Manning. By the way, Peyton Manning got rid of the ball on average in 2.5 seconds in the game against the Chiefs, according to ESPN.

Manning attributes part of the reason for a quarterback injury to be the physical contact at the ball's release point. "The quarterback is a vulnerable target more so at the immediate point of releasing the ball, as opposed to being sacked." According to Manning, "players today are better conditioned - so strong, so fast - that the collisions are such that the human body cannot take it."

Bobby Hebert, a former Saints and Falcons quarterback, spent 13 seasons racking up multiple concussions and broken body parts moving in and out of the pocket. In hindsight, Hebert takes a proactive approach to quarterback safety measures. "In order to survive (as a QB in the NFL), you must have the ability to read defenses quickly." Says Hebert, "you must know how and where to attack the defenses - " to keep them off-balance and the quarterback out of harm's way."

An examination of the quarterback injury profile points out that while these hybrid athletes have the intellect to size up the opposing defensive schemes, in many cases they do not have the work-hardened bodies to withstand the trauma of the game. Having just volunteered my services to two combat-tested U.S. Army Ranger Special Forces heroes, our gridiron heroes need a dose of survival training.

Much like the training for the sport of judo, the NFL quarterback needs to learn how to break his fall to the ground, because based on this season's injury rate - it's going to be a hard one.

Mackie Shilstone, a regular contributor to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, has been involved in the wellness sports performance industry for nearly 40 years. He is currently the fitness coach for Serena Williams and has trained numerous other professional athletes and consulted a litany of professional sports franchises. He's the Executive Director of the Fitness Principle with Mackie Shilstone at East Jefferson General Hospital. Contact him at mackieshilstone.com